What is Muharram? Meaning, Significance
& Sacred Month in Islam
A comprehensive guide to the first month of the Islamic calendar — its Arabic meaning, its unique status as the Month of Allah (Shahr Allah), and how to honour its sacred days.
What is Muharram?
Muharram (المحرم) is the first month of the Islamic Hijri lunar calendar and one of the four months that Allah — Glorified and Exalted be He — has declared sacred (haram). It holds a rank above all other months aside from Ramadan in terms of voluntary worship and the gravity of sin.
The month takes its name from the Arabic root meaning “forbidden” or “sacred,” reflecting the ancient and Islamic prohibition on fighting and wrongdoing during this time. It is the only month in the Quranic and Prophetic tradition to be called by Allah’s own name — “Shahr Allah al-Muharram” (the sacred month of Allah), a distinction shared by no other month of the year.
Muharram contains within it the Day of Ashura (عاشوراء) — the 10th — a day of immense historical and spiritual significance upon which the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ fasted and commanded fasting, connecting the Muslim community to the memory of Prophet Musa (Moses) and Allah’s mercy upon him.
“Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve months in the register of Allah [from] the day He created the heavens and earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them.”
Surah At-Tawbah 9:36 · Quran.com/9/36The trilateral Arabic root ḥ-r-m (حرم) gives rise to words denoting:
حَرَام (Haram) — Forbidden, sacred
حَرَم (Haram) — Sacred sanctuary
مُحَرَّم (Muḥarram) — Made sacred / made forbidden
إِحْرَام (Ihraam) — Sacred state of pilgrimage
“The best fasting after Ramadan is the Month of Allah — Muharram.”
Sahih Muslim 1163 · Abu Hurairah (RA) · Verify on Sunnah.comThe 4 Sacred Months in Islam
Allah designated four months as sacred (Al-Ashhur Al-Hurum / الأشهر الحرم) in Surah At-Tawbah (9:36). Three are consecutive — surrounding the Hajj season — while Rajab stands alone.
Dhul Qa’dah, Dhul Hijjah, and Muharram are three consecutive sacred months surrounding the Hajj pilgrimage season. Rajab is the solitary sacred month.
Why is Muharram Important in Islam?
Muharram stands apart from all other non-Ramadan months by an extraordinary convergence of divine designation, prophetic exhortation, and historical events of salvation.
Muharram marks the beginning of the Islamic lunar calendar, a tradition formalised by Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) and rooted in the blessed Hijrah of the Prophet ﷺ.
Allah declared it haram (forbidden/sacred) in the Quran (9:36). Wrongdoing in sacred months carries greater weight, and acts of worship are multiplied in reward.
Uniquely, the Prophet ﷺ attributed Muharram directly to Allah — “Shahr Allah” — an honour not given to any other month, signifying its supreme spiritual rank.
The 10th of Muharram commemorates Allah’s salvation of Prophet Musa (Moses) from Pharaoh — a day the Prophet ﷺ fasted in gratitude and instructed Muslims to fast.
Fasting during Muharram — particularly on Ashura — is described by the Prophet ﷺ as the best voluntary fast after the obligatory fasts of Ramadan (Sahih Muslim 1163).
Allah specifically warns: “Do not wrong yourselves during them” (9:36). The scholars agree that zulm (injustice) in sacred months is compounded in its sinfulness.
Muharram as the First Month of the Islamic Calendar
The Islamic Hijri calendar consists of twelve lunar months, and Muharram stands at the beginning. This positioning was deliberate — during the era of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA), the companions consulted on which event and which month should anchor the new calendar. The Hijrah (migration) of the Prophet ﷺ from Makkah to Madinah was chosen as Year 1, and Muharram — already the first month in the ancient Arabic reckoning — was confirmed as the start of each year.
This means that with every new Hijri year, Muslims are reminded of Muharram’s sacred status and called to begin their year in worship, repentance, and tawbah — not in celebration and revelry, but in reflection and gratitude to Allah.
Muharram “Forbidden” — The Meaning Behind the Name
The name Muharram itself comes from the passive participle of the root ح-ر-م, meaning “that which has been made forbidden/sacred.” The Ancient Arabs, even before Islam, recognised this month as a time of absolute prohibition on warfare, bloodshed, and oppression.
Islam came and affirmed this sanctity — not merely as an Arab tradition but as a divine decree. The Quran places all four sacred months within a cosmically ordered system: “That is the correct religion (al-deen al-qayyim)” — suggesting that honouring sacred time is not culture but theology.
“Time has come back to its original state which it had when Allah created the heavens and earth. The year is twelve months, of which four are sacred.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 3197 · Sunnah.comThe 10th of Muharram:
Yawm Ashura
The Day of Ashura (يوم عاشوراء) — the 10th of Muharram — is one of the most blessed days in the Islamic year. Its significance rests on divine rescue, prophetic practice, and annual expiation of sins.
“Fasting on the Day of Ashura — I hope from Allah that it expiates the sins of the preceding year.”
Sahih Muslim 1162 · Sunnah.comOn this day, Allah parted the Red Sea and saved Prophet Musa and Bani Israel from Pharaoh (Fir’awn). The Jews of Madinah fasted this day in gratitude.
When the Prophet ﷺ learned of Ashura, he declared: “We have more right to Musa than you,” fasted, and commanded fasting (Bukhari 2004).
The Prophet ﷺ intended to fast the 9th also, to differ from the Jews and Christians. Scholars recommend fasting both the 9th + 10th, or the 10th + 11th.
Fasting Ashura is one of the rare deeds for which the Prophet ﷺ expressed specific hope of an entire year’s sins being expiated (minor sins, per scholarly consensus).
Muharram: The Month of Allah (Shahr Allah)
When the Prophet ﷺ said “Shahr Allah al-Muharram” — “the Month of Allah, Muharram” — Islamic scholars throughout history have reflected deeply on why this month alone carries this divine attribution.
Imam al-Nawawi رحمه الله explained that Allah attributes certain things to Himself to signal their extreme honour: just as the she-camel of Allah (Thamud), the House of Allah (Ka’bah), and the spirit of Allah (Ruh) are attributed to Him to confer distinction — so too the Month of Allah elevates Muharram above all months except Ramadan.
This attribution also signals that Muharram is a month of divine proprietorship: it belongs to Allah in a special sense, and worshipping abundantly in it is a way of drawing near to Him. The scholars of the four madhabs have unanimously considered this month among the most virtuous for voluntary fasting and spiritual elevation.
Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali رحمه الله wrote in Lata’if al-Ma’arif: “Muharram is the best of all months after Ramadan, because the Prophet ﷺ called it the Month of Allah, and the best of acts in it is fasting.”
Muharram is one of four sacred months; fasting on Ashura is strongly recommended (mustahabb). Imam Abu Hanifa considered it among the most virtuous days for fast.
Imam Malik affirmed the sacredness of Muharram and recommended fasting Ashura. Sinning in sacred months is considered more grievous in the Maliki school.
Imam al-Nawawi (Shafi’i) explicitly stated Muharram is the best month for voluntary fasting after Ramadan, and recommends fasting 9th + 10th together.
Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali wrote extensively on Muharram’s virtues in Lata’if al-Ma’arif. Fasting Ashura to expiate sins is strongly affirmed in the Hanbali school.
Recommended Acts of Worship in Muharram
The best Muharram deed. Fasting Tasu’a (9th) + Ashura (10th) expiates the previous year’s sins and differs from other faith communities. The Prophet ﷺ intended this pattern.
Sacred months amplify the weight of all deeds. Fill your days with SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar, and Astaghfirullah — especially morning and evening adhkar.
Set a Muharram Quran goal — one juz per day or a full khatm in the month. Sacred time for sacred words.
Muharram is a time to turn to Allah in repentance. Begin the new Hijri year with a clean slate — make a firm intention to leave major sins and seek Allah’s forgiveness.
Increase voluntary Tahajjud prayers in Muharram. The reward of night prayer is always immense — in sacred months it is further amplified.
The Prophet ﷺ was always generous, and more so in blessed seasons. Give charity, feed the fasting, sponsor orphans — acts multiplied in sacred months.
“So do not wrong yourselves during them.” — Quran 9:36
The sacred months are a time of heightened spiritual accountability. Guard your tongue, your gaze, your relationships, and your transactions. Sin in Muharram carries greater weight; so does every good deed.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Muharram
Everything you need to know about Muharram — its meaning, significance, practices, and status in Islam.
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Muharram (المحرم) is the first month of the Islamic Hijri lunar calendar and one of the four sacred months declared by Allah in Surah At-Tawbah (9:36). It holds unique honour as the only month directly attributed to Allah — called “Shahr Allah” (the Month of Allah) by the Prophet ﷺ — and contains within it the blessed Day of Ashura (10th Muharram). Sinning in it is more serious than in other months, and righteous deeds are amplified in reward.
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The Arabic word Muharram (المحرم) is the passive participle of the verb harrama (حرّم), meaning “to make forbidden” or “to make sacred.” The trilateral root ح-ر-م (Ḥ·R·M) gives rise to a family of words all related to sanctity and prohibition: ḥarām (forbidden), ḥaram (sacred sanctuary), iḥrām (the sacred state of pilgrimage), and maḥram (a close family member). So Muharram literally means “that which has been made sacred/forbidden” — a fitting name for a month whose inviolability was declared by Allah Himself.
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Muharram is important for five key reasons: (1) First month of the Hijri year — it marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar; (2) Divinely sacred — Allah declared it one of four haram months in Quran 9:36; (3) Month of Allah (Shahr Allah) — the Prophet ﷺ directly attributed it to Allah, indicating extreme honour; (4) Day of Ashura — the 10th contains the day Allah saved Musa (Moses) from Pharaoh, and fasting it expiates sins of the previous year; (5) Best voluntary fasting time — the Prophet ﷺ named it the best month for fasting after Ramadan (Sahih Muslim 1163).
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Yes, unambiguously. Allah explicitly declares four months sacred in Surah At-Tawbah (9:36), and the Prophet ﷺ confirmed in the Farewell Sermon that Muharram is among them: “Three are consecutive — Dhul Qa’dah, Dhul Hijjah, and Muharram — and one separate, which is Rajab” (Bukhari 3197). The sacred status of Muharram predates Islam — it was honoured even in the time of the Ancient Arabs — and Islam confirmed and elevated this designation through divine revelation.
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The four sacred months (Al-Ashhur Al-Hurum / الأشهر الحرم) are:
1. Muharram (محرم) — 1st month · “The Month of Allah” · Contains Ashura
2. Rajab (رجب) — 7th month · The solitary sacred month
3. Dhul Qa’dah (ذو القعدة) — 11th month · Pre-Hajj travel month
4. Dhul Hijjah (ذو الحجة) — 12th month · Month of Hajj, Arafah, and Eid al-Adha
Three of the four (Dhul Qa’dah, Dhul Hijjah, Muharram) are consecutive, surrounding the Hajj pilgrimage. Rajab stands alone in the middle of the year. -
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The best fasting after Ramadan is the Month of Allah, Muharram” (Sahih Muslim 1163). Scholars explain that when the Prophet ﷺ added “Month of Allah” before “Muharram,” it was not redundant — it was an intentional attribution of the month to Allah to confer supreme honour on it. Imam al-Nawawi wrote that Allah attributes to Himself things of great distinction — His House (Ka’bah), His She-Camel, His Prophet — and similarly His month, Muharram. Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali رحمه الله noted that this attribution signals Muharram is a month of divine proprietorship: one to be revered, not squandered.
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Yes. Muharram is the first of twelve months in the Islamic Hijri lunar calendar. The Hijri calendar was formally established during the caliphate of Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA), approximately 17 years after the Hijrah. The companions chose the Hijrah (Prophet’s migration from Makkah to Madinah) as the epoch of the calendar, and Muharram was confirmed as the first month. The Hijri calendar is a purely lunar calendar of 354–355 days, meaning Islamic months cycle through all seasons over approximately 33 solar years.
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Ashura falls on the 10th of Muharram. When the Prophet ﷺ arrived in Madinah, he found the Jewish community fasting. He asked why, and was told: “This is the day Allah saved Musa and drowned Pharaoh, so Musa fasted in gratitude.” The Prophet ﷺ said: “We are more entitled to Musa than you” — fasted that day and instructed Muslims to fast it. He ﷺ also intended to fast the 9th (Tasu’a) to distinguish Muslim practice. Reward: fasting Ashura expiates the minor sins of the previous year (Sahih Muslim 1162).
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Recommended acts in Muharram include: (1) Fasting — especially the 9th + 10th (Ashura); the month overall is highly recommended for voluntary fasting; (2) Tawbah (sincere repentance) — begin the new year spiritually clean; (3) Dhikr (remembrance) — increase SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar, Astaghfirullah; (4) Quran recitation — set a monthly target; (5) Qiyam al-Layl (night prayer / Tahajjud); (6) Sadaqah (charity) — especially for orphans and the poor.
Avoid: All sins carry greater weight in sacred months. Guard your speech, relationships, business dealings, and intentions. -
Yes. Allah says in Surah At-Tawbah (9:36): “So do not wrong yourselves (lā taẓlimū anfusakum) during them.” Scholars across all four Sunni madhabs agree that wrongdoing (dhulm) — whether to oneself or others — is particularly grave in sacred months. This includes sins of the heart (arrogance, envy, hatred), sins of the tongue (backbiting, slander, lying), sins of the body (fornication, intoxicants), and financial sins (riba, fraud). Some scholars (particularly in the Hanbali school) also hold that initiating armed conflict during sacred months is prohibited unless in defensive response.
Verify & Learn Further
All hadith and Quranic references cited on this page can be verified through the following trusted Islamic scholarly sources:
Dua for the New Hijri Month
“O Allah, bring this month upon us with security, faith, safety, Islam, and success in what You love and are pleased with.” — Ibn Umar (RA)
May Allah accept our worship in Muharram and grant us the full benefit of its sacred days. Ameen.
Content verified against authenticated hadith collections (Bukhari, Muslim) and reviewed through the lens of all four Sunni madhabs.
For personal fatwa or specific rulings, consult a qualified Islamic scholar.
Last updated: Muharram 1447 AH · DuaForAll.com